Cable connector assembly and system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a cable connector assembly including cover means and connecting means, wherein the cover means include wall portions and an opening adapted to accommodate the connecting means. At least one of the wall portions is at least partially curved for guiding at least one cable of one or more other cable connector assemblies. Cable ties to attach the cable to the curved wall portion are disclosed are well. The invention facilitates cable management in dense and small cabinets.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cable connector assembly comprising covermeans and connecting means, said cover means comprising wall portionsand an opening adapted to accommodate said connecting means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO 99/27616 discloses a high density electrical connector system,wherein the electrical connectors have a hood with a sloping top.Because of the slope of the hood and the position of the opening in thehood for a cable, a second connector does not interfere with this cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a cable connector assemblyand a connector system wherein cable management is facilitated. This isimportant since the cabinets containing the cables are getting smallerand the density of cable connector assemblies on a circuit boardincreases.

This object is achieved by providing a cable connector assemblycharacterized in that at least one of said wall portions is at leastpartially curved for guiding at least one cable of at least one othercable connector. By adapting the cover means such that it allows guidingcables of other cable connector assemblies, these cables can becontrolled by the cover means. The curvature of the wall portion can beclose to the minimum bend radius at which a signal through the guidedcable or the shielding of the cable starts to degrade. For the shieldingof the cable, especially the braid is susceptive for bend forces if thebend radius of the cable becomes too small.

In an embodiment of the invention the cover means of the cable connectorhas means for reducing the movement of a cable over the cover means.Preferably these means include cable tie means for attaching the cableto the partially curved wall portion to secure the guided cable.Alternatively or in addition the curved wall portion may be curvedsubstantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the curved wallportion. This is e.g. advantageous if a single cable is to be guidedover the curved wall portion. Moreover other structures or materialcompositions for the wall portion can be envisaged that are adapted toreduce the movement of the cable.

can be envisaged that are adapted to reduce the movement of the cable.

The invention also relates to a cable connector system comprising atleast a first and a second cable connector assembly according to any oneof the preceding claims, wherein said first cable connector comprisessaid at least partially curved wall portion and said second cableconnector comprises a wall portion having an opening adapted fordirecting said cable substantially tangential to said at least partiallycurved wall portion. By adapting the opening the cable connectors can bepositioned in close proximity to each other, thereby providing thepossibility to obtain a high density system of cable connectors on e.g.a circuit board with improved cable management features. The system maycomprise several cable connector assemblies, wherein the cover means ofthe assemblies guide at least some of the cable of these cable connectorassemblies. These cables can be attached to the cover means by cable tiemeans. In this way a flexible cable management system is obtained.

The invention also relates to the cover means as such, comprising an atleast partially curved wall portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further illustrated with reference to the attacheddrawing, which shows a preferred embodiment according to the invention.It will be understood that the cable connector assembly and systemaccording to the invention are not in any way restricted to thisspecific and preferred embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a cable connector system according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a cable connector assembly accordingto a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows different cable clamp arrangements;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show perspective views of two parts of a cover accordingto a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show perspective views of a cable connector assemblyaccording to a second embodiment of the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a cable connector system 1 comprising a first cableconnector assembly 2 and a second cable connector assembly 3 on aprinted circuit board 4. Each of said assemblies 2, 3 has a cable 5extending from said assemblies 2, 3. In FIG. 1 only the cover means 6, 7of respectively the assemblies 2 and 3 are visible. It is noted thatcover 6 and 7 may be identical or similar. The cover means 6, 7,hereinafter also referred to as cover, comprises upper wall portions 8,9 that are curved for guiding the cable 5. The curvature of the upperwall is preferably close to the minimum bend radius of the cable 5. As ageneral rule the bend radius of the curved wall portion 8, 9 is equal toor higher than five times the outer diameter of the cable. For instance,in a cable connector system 1 with three types of cables 5 with outerdiameters of 5, 6.5 and 10 mm, the curvature of the wall portions 8, 9of the cover means 6, 7 is adapted to the cable 5 with the largestdiameter, i.e. the curvature of the wall portions 8, 9 is at least 50mm.

The cable 5 is reduced in movement and assisted in guidance by the cabletie 10 that attaches cable 5. This cable tie 10 may e.g. be of plasticmaterial and can be adapted to easily fasten and release a cable.Alternatively the cable tie 10 may be a metal or plastic cable clamp.The cable tie 10 may be integrated with the cover means 6, 7. Cable tie10 may attach several cables 5 from other connector assemblies (notshown) as well. The covers 6, 7 comprise a recess or slot 11 for holdingthe cable tie 10. It is noted that the recess 11 for the cable tie 10 isnot necessarily located near the position on the upper wall where thecable approaches the assembly, but may e.g. be located in the middle ofthe upper wall 8, 9. Also more than one cable tie 10 can be applied.

The assemblies 2, 3 further comprise cable openings 12 (see FIG. 2) thatare e.g. adapted by the alignment part 13 to direct the cable 5 ofassembly 2 tangential to the curved wall portion 9 of the assembly 3. Tofacilitate this alignment an alignment part 13 may have a directionwhich gives cable 5 a direction which is just below the tangentialdirection such that contact with the upper wall 9 is ensured. Alignmentparts 13 and the tie-wraps 14 may also have a bend relief function inFIG. 1. Alignment part 13 may be an integral part of the cover 6, 7 aswell as being a mountable part. The upper wall 9 may comprise a smalllinear part near the location where the cable 5 meets the cover 7 todefine the tangential direction for the cable 5. The cables 5 can beattached to the covers 6, 7 by the tie wrap 14. The assemblies 2, 3 arefastened to the printed circuit board 4 with screws 15. Covers 6 and 7are provided with indents 16 for fingers to facilitate unmating of theconnector assemblies 2, 3 from the headers (not shown) of the printedcircuit board 4.

The construction of a cable connector assembly 2, 3 according to twoembodiments of the invention will be discussed next in greater detail.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the connector assembly 2 wherein thefront part of the cover 6 is removed. Cover 6 comprises sidewallportions 20, 21 and 22 that together with the front part side wall 23(see FIG. 4B) of the cover determine an opening 24 opposite to thepartially curved upper wall 8, which opening 24 accommodates connectingmeans or terminal blocks 25 to be mounted on the printed circuit board4. The front part of the cover 6 can be attached to the assembly 2 byusing pins 26. Cable opening 12 may comprise a cable clamp 27 insertedin a slot of the cover 6 for strain relief of the cable 5. A connectorassembly 2 may have several cables 5, possibly of different diameters,connected to the terminal blocks 25. Therefore different cable clamps27′, 27″ can be used, as shown in FIG. 3. The several cables 5 may allbe guided by the upper wall 9 of cable assembly 3 or, alternatively,some of the cables 5 leaving cable assembly 2 are guided by the upperwall 9.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show perspective views of two parts 30 and 31 that areto be attached to each other to form a cover 6. Similar or equivalentparts of the covers with respect to the first embodiment have beenassigned identical reference numbers. The alignment part 13 at the cableopening 12 shown in FIG. 2 is omitted in the second embodiment. Insteadthe sidewalls 21, 23 of the cover 6 comprise a structure 32 forming atubular cable opening 12 when the sidewalls 21 and 23 are attached toeach other by fitting the pins 26 in corresponding holes 33. Thistubular cable opening is adapted to perform the same function as thealignment part 13 in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 5A the cable assembly 2 is shown comprising a cable 5 in thetubular cable opening 12 formed by the structure 32 in the sidewall 21of the cover 6. Cable 5 comprises a plurality of wires 34 that are to beconnected to the appropriate terminal blocks 25. The cable 5 can beattached to the cover 6 in the tubular cable opening 12 by one or morecomponents 35 for fixation of the cable to the cover 6. Such a component35 may be a wrap that can be shrunk around the cable 5 and fitted in thetubular opening 12. Component 35 has a similar function as the cableclamps 27, 27′, 27″ as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 5B the connectorassembly 2 is shown with the sidewall 23 in place, ready to be mountedto a printed circuit board 4. When mounted cable 5 can be guided by theupper walls of other similar connector assemblies, such as connectorassembly 3. In this way management of the cables is improved.

It is noted that the cable or cables 5 of the connector assemblies 2, 3are not necessarily in contact with the entire upper wall 8, 9.Especially at the end of the curved upper wall, the cable 5 may divergefrom the upper wall since e.g. the destination of the cable 5 urges thiscable to a particular direction.

Moreover it is noted that alternatively or in addition to the cable tie10, other means for reducing movement and/or assisting the guidance ofthe cable 5 can be applied on the upper wall 8, 9. E.g. the upper wall8, 9 may comprise a groove or further curvature in the longitudinaldirection of the upper wall 8, 9. Further, structures or materialcompositions of or on top of the upper wall 8, 9 that are able to exerta sufficient friction force to the cable 5 when moved can be envisagedas well.

1. Cable connector assembly comprising cover means and connecting means,said cover means comprising wall portions and an opening adapted toaccommodate said connecting means, at least one of said wall portions isat least partially curved along a majority of its length and adapted forguiding at least one cable of one or more other cable connectorassemblies, wherein the cable connector assembly comprises means forreducing movement and/or assisting guidance of the at least one cable ofthe one or more other cable connector assemblies.
 2. Cable connectorassembly according to claim 1, wherein said wall portions comprise saidmeans for reducing movement and/or assisting guidance.
 3. Cableconnector system comprising at least a first and a second cableconnector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first cableconnector assembly comprises said at least partially curved wall portionand said second cable connector assembly comprises a wall portion havinga cable opening adapted for directing said cable substantiallytangential to said at least partially curved wall portion.
 4. Covermeans comprising an at least partially curved wall portion according toclaim
 1. 5. Cable connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein thecurved portion of the at least one of said wall portions has a bendradius equal to or higher than five times the outer diameter of thecable.
 6. Cable connector assembly comprising cover means and connectingmeans, said cover means comprising wall portions and an opening adaptedto accomodate said connecting means, at least one of said wall portionsis at least partially curved and adapted for guiding at least one cableof one or more other cable connector assemblies, wherein the cableconnector assembly comprises means for reducing movement and/orassisting guidance of the at least one cable of the one or more othercable connector assemblies, wherein said means for reducing movementand/or assisting guidance comprises cable tie means for attaching saidcable to said at least partially curved wall portion.
 7. Cable connectorassembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for reducing movementand/or assisting guidance comprises a further curvature of said wallportion substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said atleast partially curved wall portion.
 8. Cable connector assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said wall portions comprise sidewallsdetermining said opening and an upper wall opposite to said openingwhich is at least partially curved for guiding the at least one cable ofthe one or more other cable connector assemblies.
 9. Cable connectorassembly according to claim 8, wherein said cover means comprises meansfor holding cable tie means comprising a recess, slot or pin.
 10. Cableconnector system comprising at least a first and a second cableconnector assembly each comprising cover means and connecting means,said cover means comprising wall portions and an opening adapted toaccommodate said connecting means, wherein at least one of said wallportions is at least partially curved along a majority of its length forguiding at least one cable of one or more other cable connectorassemblies, wherein said first cable connector comprises said at leastpartially curved wall portion and said second cable connector comprisesa wall portion having a cable opening adapted for directing said cablesubstantially tangential to said at least partially curved wall portion,wherein said system comprises further cable connector assemblies havingfurther cables, said at least partially curved wall portion of saidfirst connector assembly guiding at least some of said further cables.11. Cable connector system according to claim 10, wherein said firstcable assembly comprises cable tie means for attaching said furthercables to said at least partially curved wall portion.
 12. Cableconnector assembly comprising; an electrical connector; and a coverconnected to the electrical connector, wherein the cover is adapted toallow a first cable to extend through the cover and be electricallyconnected to the electrical connector, wherein the cover comprises wallportions and an opening accommodating the electrical connector, whereina first one of the wall portions is at least partially curved along amajority of its length and adapted for guiding a second cable of anothercable connector assembly on the first wall portion, and wherein thecable connector assembly comprises a cable movement guide proximate thefirst wall portion for reducing movement and/or assisting guidance ofthe second cable against the first wall portion.